Author's Note: First things first, I'm not dead. Really. Contrary to popular belief, I am alive. I just haven't had much writing time lately... not much over the entire year, but especially not now.
First, I'm going to apologize for taking this long. I really didn't mean to. You see, the thing is, my mom's computer has been in that almost-but-not-quite-dead state for ages now. Just recently she decided to buy another one, but then the retrograde (eh, it's an astrological thing) came and now we have to wait about another week or something. Basically, over the summer, my computer has been the "family computer", meaning that mom needs it for work, my brother needs it for schoolwork, and I need it for both. Which leaves me with very little writing time. To top it off, mom started panicking about college and now I'm on the academic fast track, working through the summer (I'm homeschooled, by the way), because mom thinks it'd be wonderful if I could get into college two years early. Yay and no yay at the same time.
Anyway, moving away from the rant, I've got to say: gracias! Domo arigatou! And a big fat THANK YOU! Everyone who reviewed, you guys are the greatest! Over 40 reviews for three chapters! I never expected to such a response for this fic! I love you all! And because of you, I will work hard to get these chapters out faster then before!
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
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The Angel Cards
Chapter Four
By Amethyst Bubble
---
"What do you mean, they invited us over for Christmas?"
"Niwa invited us. Is it that hard to comprehend?"
"...I don't understand that boy. Ha, did he seem disappointed when you declined, too?"
"...Satoshi? Please tell me you declined."
"...Well, I couldn't really..."
"What do you mean, you COULDN'T? You say 'no', it's that simple!"
"It's just that the invitation was so out of the blue-"
"It was unexpected, so you said 'yes'!"
"...Yes. It was a nice gesture, Krad. I'm sure it'll be-"
"Don't say fun. Just don't."
"...I'm sure it'll be enjoyable."
"That's as bad as fun."
"Just promise me you'll be pleasant. At the very least, promise me you'll be polite."
"I won't have to. What's the phone number? I'm calling right now and telling them that we have other plans."
"You will NOT! Besides, Niwa already knows that we don't do anything for Christmas."
"Then you'll just have to be violently ill."
"Krad!"
"Don't make me put poison in your food, Satoshi. I'll do it just to get out of the 'wonderful' evening with the other captors that you've signed us up for."
"Krad, we are going. That's final."
"You can go then! I'm staying right here and spending Christmas like I normally do."
"Slaughtering small children and collecting their blood in glass jars, in order to ruin the spirit of the season for several more people?"
"Yes, yes, that's EXACTLY what I'll be doing, because I'm just that horrible of a human being."
"You're going and that's final."
"And just how, dear Sato, are you going to make me?"
Satoshi's blue eyes glimmered from behind his glasses.
Krad cursed himself for challenging him.
---
To say that Emiko Niwa was delighted to have extra guests for the holiday was an understatement. That is, until, she learned exactly who those guests were.
"You invited the other captors?" She wailed, aghast at her son's actions. "But...but...but WHY?" She demanded, wrapping her son in a tight hug as she felt his forehead, "You feel a little warm... Could it be a fever?"
"Mooom!" Daisuke wailed above his mother's fussing, "I'm NOT sick! I just figured that it would be NICE! Hiwatari said that they never did anything for Christmas, so I thought it would be nice to invite them over! Besides, they're really nice!"
"I don't think this scar will ever fade away," Dark commented lightly from the table, examining his palm as if to tell Emiko exactly how nice Krad was.
"They could try and steal the cards from you two!" Emiko gasped, whirling around to stare out the kitchen window, as if suspecting that the other two captors were out there right then, listening in our their conversation.
Risa shook her head, "No captor would be so dishonorable." She said, taking another sip of her newest discovery, hot cocoa.
"And why not?" Emiko demanded to know, "What's stopping them from arriving and taking the cards out from under our very noses?"
"Because," Risa took a dainty sip, savoring the rich flavor, before continuing. "Bad things happen to those who disobey the rules of the cards. And of course, those rules include no stealing." This said, she gave a haughty toss of her head before returning to her mug. She had missed so much while being sealed away in that book and now she had to make up for lost time.
"It's true," Daiki nodded to his daughter. "There are a set of rules to follow, and nasty things have always happened to captors who blatantly disobey them."
Dark's eyes widened a bit, "What happens?"
Daiki shrugged, "It depends. The punishment isn't set in stone. The cards have a way of taking things into their own hands. They are living creatures, you know. They may look like objects, but they have minds of their own. It's not wise to make them cross."
"What are the rules, then?" Dark questioned further, leaning farther, obviously excited about this new-found danger.
Daiki shrugged again, "That's the problem. They aren't written down. It's just an obscure bit of knowledge amongst those who have learned of the cards through some way or another."
"Oh," Dark sounded rather disappointed, sitting back and sighing slightly.
Risa spoke up, "You don't really need to know the rules, as they're pretty much just common sense. Don't steal cards that have already been sealed by other captors, don't rip, tear or attempt to harm or destroy the cards in any way, treat the cards with respect..." She rattled off in a bored manner.
"Seems simple enough," Daisuke nodded to himself.
"It is," Risa affirmed. "I honestly don't know why people make such a fuss over the cards... They are relatively simple in themselves. The cards themselves are not what you should be worried about. I will tell you right now that no captor has ever died in the process of capturing the cards."
Dark grinned, "Good, because "death by magic cardboard" would really look pathetic on my tombstone."
"I like that," Daisuke joked, poking Dark. "That's what I'm going to have inscribed on it when you become the first person to get killed by the cards."
"You're mean," Dark poked him back, sticking his tongue out at his red-headed cousin.
"And you're disgusting."
"Boys," Emiko cut in, her hands on her hips. A small frown was on her face and she tapped one foot against the kitchen floor in an agitated manner. "We are not done with our discussion here. Even if the other captors do not try and steal the cards, the fact still remained that they are coming over for Christmas dinner. What are we to do?" She sighed dramatically and continued before anyone else could offer a suggestion, "I suppose we'll just have to be gracious hosts and welcome then into our home."
"We could just turn off all the lights and pretend not to be home. They'll have to go away eventually," Dark offered.
Risa sighed, "Just invite them in. Hopefully, the Fallen candidates won't try and kill each other... And if they do, Dark will just have to win, won't he?"
"It's nice to know you have such confidence in me..."
---
"Why are you buying flowers?" Krad snapped with impatience, glaring at Satoshi as he examined a bouquet of roses and lavender.
"It's common courtesy. They invited us into their home-"
"Some of us didn't want to be invited!"
"-so we should show our appreciation with a small gift. Flowers or food are usually a good idea," Satoshi explained in a tired tone. "Honestly, though, I don't care much for cooking myself and I just don't trust you around the stove. Nor do I trust you not to poison the dish. Therefore, food is eliminated. Flowers will have to do."
"First, you drag me into this fiasco, then you tell me we have to bring them gifts?" Krad crossed him arms over his chest and sent a glare towards the girl at the counter. She'd been listening in on their private conversation ever since they had entered. He couldn't stand eavesdroppers.
"It's common courtesy." Satoshi finally picked up a bunch the cellophane wrapped blossoms.
Krad closed his eyes and focused on the damp, slightly sweet smell in the shop, "It's ridiculous."
"I didn't say it wasn't, but it's considered polite all the same," Satoshi said over his shoulder as he approached the counter. The salesgirl wrung up the bouquet quickly.
"Anything else, sir?" She asked, nervously watching Krad out of the corner of her eye. He looked like he was trying to make the shop burst into flames with sheer will power alone. She strained to keep her polite smile in place.
"No, that'll be all," The blue-haired boy answered as he handed her the appropriate amount of money.
"Please come again," She smiled, her eyes fixed on their backs as they left the shop. Finally, the door swung close, the bell attached to it ringing slightly, and she slumped down on her stool, sighing.
Why did she always get the scary customers?
---
That night, the night before Christmas Eve, Dark's sleep was fitful and filled with odd dreams, different then the one's he'd always had before.
A name was whispered, but he couldn't quite catch it. "Do you really want to do this?" Golden eyes were fixed on his face; a pale hand brushed against his shoulder, traveled down his arm and came to rest on his own hand. Slowly, he weaved his fingers in with the others, marveling at the difference in skin tone.
"I..." he glanced down at stain glass windows, stone gargoyles and ivy that slowly crept up the stone walls. "Yes. It's our only option, isn't it?" A pause. "...We're going to die either way. I won't give those paper bastards the satisfaction of killing us." A ghost of his old, cocky grin was back on his face for a moment. "Our lives are our own. My blood will only be spilled by my own hands. You understand that, don't you?"
"No one understands better then me." The other paused, his blond hair cascading over his shoulders, "It just seems a little melodramatic is all."
"Suicide tends to be, love." He tried to laugh, but it caught in his throat and made him choke. He lowered his head onto his lover's shoulder, knowing well that it would be the last time they were together like this. Maybe they would meet again in another world, another realm, another life... But never exactly like this. No, never like this.
Long, white clad arms wrapped around him, one hand resting against the small of his back. "I meant the method, dear." He clucked his tongue, "Jumping off a church roof? What would your parents say, I wonder?"
"Fuck them." He spat out the words, a bitter taste in his mouth. "Fuck them and fuck the cards! I hate them all! I do, I do, I do!" His breathing grew harsh and labored. The arms around him tightened.
"Hush now. I'm not saying your reasons are unfounded. Don't cry or I'll have to hit you."
"I'm not crying." He was too proud for tears. So he sucked in a quick breath and clung to the tall, lean figure besides him. "I hate the cards. Don't you? Those creepy little paper bastards-"
"I get it." Breaking off the embrace, the white clad figure stood and stared at the stars above them. "I agree with you that they are prejudiced little things... And it's quite insane that they should have such power over us. After all, aren't we their captors?"
Drawing one card and one card alone out of the pocket of his black coat, he looked it over with violet eyes, "What do you say, WISH?" He breathed, staring at the plain black and white card in his grip. A warm gust of wind encircled him, whipping his hair around and whispering something in a secret language. "WISH agrees with us." He slipped the card back into his pocket.
Golden eyes regarded him, "You brought a card along with you?"
He pouted, "WISH isn't like the other cards. WISH is special."
"If you say so, beloved." He looked at the clock tower in the distance, acknowledging that it was twenty minutes to the hour. "It's almost time. Are you ready?"
"Since the day I was chosen as captor," despite his words, his legs were shaky as he stood. "Since the day I saw the cards for the first time. Since the day the Fallen deck told me they hated you, that it wasn't right for me to be with you, love you, since the day we found first found this place... I've been waiting for this moment all along." The night air ruffled his hair and clothes. "It's actually kind of freeing, knowing that I'm about to jump off this roof and there's nothing they can do about." He laughed, bitter and hollow though it was. "Risa will be mad at me, though."
"Mm."
"But..." his eyes trailed over the graceful figure, taking everything about him in and feeling his heart turn to lead. "There's no reason for you to die. Your cards, they listen to you... They might not approve, but they fear you so they won't say anything... and once I'm gone..." He stopped abruptly as he was caught up in a tight hug.
"Don't be stupid. Not now. If you jump, I jump. That's the way it works. So shut up before I make you."
"Yeah?" He couldn't help but grin, something prickling behind his eyes. "And how would you do that?"
And then lips were on his. They were cold from the night air, chapped. The kiss was hasty, rushed, their teeth crashed together and they both winced. They were both too aggressive, too needy, too hungry. They forgot to breathe, forgot to think or feel. It had all the grounds for an absolutely disastrous kiss, but oh, how wonderful it was for them.
Finally, when their lungs burned so much it was unbearable, they broke apart, panting hard and gripping at each other's arms in a half-embrace.
"Our last kiss." There was a satisfied smile on his face, but his violet eyes conflicted with that.
"Don't cry. If you cry-"
"You'll have to hit me. I know, I know." He took a shuddery breath. "You ready?"
"Are you?"
"...Yes."
Golden eyes regarded him, "Then I'm ready."
Still clasping each other by the arms, they watched the clock tower in the distance as it slowly, slowly inched towards the hour mark.
One, he counted under his breath. Two, three, four, five, six, seven...
His breath caught as the hand reached the top and the bells began to sound.
He didn't know who jumped first, him or his lover. It didn't matter. One of them took the plunge and dragged the other down with him. Then they were falling, falling, falling, the ground coming closer and closer and closer and--
Dark awoke with a gasp, sitting straight up and clawing at the blankets. "What... was that?" He asked his ceiling between pants. Something about a church, and the cards, and... Oh, the images were escaping his grasp already.
Golden eyes.
Yes, that's right; he could clearly remember a pair of golden eyes. He'd seen them somewhere before, hadn't he? But where? Who had they belonged to? He couldn't remember. All that stayed with him was those eyes and the feeling of falling, the cobble stones coming up to meet him at an alarming speed...
But he wasn't alone, was he? No, never alone...
"Never alone..." He murmured faintly, his gaze shifting to the digital clock on his bedside table. The red letters blinked 3:27 AM over and over. Dark sighed and wondered if there was any chance of him getting back to sleep at all that night...
"Dark?" The door creaked open and a ray of light illuminated his floor. His cousin stood in the doorway, rubbing one ruby eye with a fist. "Is there something wrong? I could hear you talking in your sleep..."
"Nah, it's nothing, Dai. You can go back to sleep." He smiled shakily at the red-head.
"Nuh-uh," Daisuke shook his head back and forth stubbornly. "I know you an' it's never nothing." He trotted into the room, kicking the door closed before plopping down at the end of the purple-haired teen's bed. "So, what happened?"
"Just a dream..." Dark reached out to ruffle Daisuke's spiky locks, his smile growing a little steadier as the younger boy batted his hand away.
"A bad one?"
Dark paused, trying to remember the details. "...Can't remember," he brushed some of the longer strands of his hair back. "You said I was talking in my sleep?"
The red-head nodded sleepily. "Yeah," he grabbed the end of one of Dark's blankets and tugged it around himself.
"What did I say?" Dark leaned forward, hoping to gain some insight into his dream. Maybe if Daisuke could tell him what he'd said, he might remember what exactly it had been about and... Why was this bothering him so much anyway?
"I don't know," Daisuke said huffily as he stretched out beside Dark and closed his eyes. "I'm underneath your stupid, freezing attic room, not next to it... Your obnoxiously loud voice doesn't carry that much."
"...You're mean when you're tired." Dark said, hesitantly lying back down. "So you really couldn't hear what I was saying?"
Daisuke cracked open one eye, "No. Why?"
Dark shrugged, pulling the blankets that Daisuke hadn't stolen up over his shoulders. "I just can't remember my dream is all... I thought, maybe, if you had heard what I said, I might be able to figure it out."
Daisuke frowned, raising himself up on his elbows. "I did some research at the library a few days ago-" Dark groaned and Daisuke slapped him lightly. "As I was saying, I did some research. On dreams, that is." He paused, as if wondering how to put change his thoughts into words. "Those dreams we had, the ones we can't remember... Well, I was thinking that maybe they were prophetic."
"Like what, they were psychic dreams or something?" Dark's brow furrowed.
Daisuke rolled his eyes, "Well, yeah, I guess you could put it like that... But anyway, maybe this dream you just had was prophetic too. Did it have to do with the cards?"
Dark thought hard and a shudder ran through him. He cast a hesitant glance at the Fallen book on his desk. "Yeah, I think so..." He averted his eyes from the book. He didn't want to look at it right now. It bothered him.
"I think that the cards are trying to send us visions of some event in the future, something that has to do with them, so we'll be prepared when it arrives." Daisuke yawned, his red eyes sliding shut again.
"How are we supposed to be prepared if we can't remember the warnings?" Dark raised one eyebrow. Daisuke shrugged.
"Who knows? I'm going to guess that your dream was something like that..." His voice faded, a sure sign that he was half way to dream land himself.
Dark lay awake for another hour, staring at his ceiling and thinking about the dream, the cards, turning the word "prophetic" over in his mind.
"I hope it's not," he hissed, his chest tightening over something he just couldn't remember. "I hope it's not."
---
Krad had a hard time sleeping that night, stretched out on the sofa, glowering. Damn Satoshi signing him up for that damn party with those damn people... And… just... DAMN.
He let out a long, frustrated sigh, rolling onto his side. He reached out and grabbed the remote, flipping on the television in hopes that it would provide enough white noise to put him to sleep. Settling on some news channel, he closed his eyes and let the nasal voice of the reporter lull him into a relaxed state.
"Ta-da!" His violet-eyed lover exclaimed, whirling around and gesturing for him to examine the black wings that had magically sprouted from his back.
"They're magnificent," he ran a long finger down a feather, relishing the shiver it sent up the other's back. "How'd you do it?"
"Magic!" He exclaimed happily, turning around and throwing his arms around the other's neck. "Grandpa said that the cards can do all this and more." The wings on his back grew dim and faded from sight. "Right now, they only last a few minutes, but once I have the cards…" there was a gleam in his eyes. "I'll be able to do all sorts of things. By the way..." he pulled back just enough for his lover to catch a glimpse of the mock-pout he wore. "Did you forget what day it is?"
His grin was feral as he leaned forward to nip at the other's neck, "Now, now, love! Have some faith in me! Do you honestly think I would forget..."
The violet-eyed boy waited impatiently for him to finish, dragging his nails lightly down the blond's sides, finally letting his hands rest on slender hips.
"Did you really think that I would forget... Friday?" He fought the urge to snicker as the other hit him over the head.
"That's not fair!"
"Honestly now, you didn't think I would forget your birthday?" He paused, "...Though it is Friday too." He added the last part under his breath. "Here," he presented the other with a small box. Inside lay a small pendant in the shape of a white wing folded in on itself.
The other thanked him enthusiastically, slipping the light chain over his neck and hiding the charm under his clothes, "They'll ask where I got it if they see it." He explained, something dark flashing in his eyes.
He nodded sympathetically and brushed back his blond hair to show the other that he wore a matching pendant. A black wing, spread open in preparation for flight contrasted sharply from where it lay against his pale chest.
His lover smiled brightly but behind him, something flickered, and for a split second, golden eyes caught sight of dozens of tiny demons clustered around the figure of his beloved, grinning maliciously.
"...Is something wrong?"
"No... no, nothing. Happy birthday."
As Krad's eyes fluttered open, he slowly drew a hand over his chest, as if searching for the pendant in his dreams. But as soon as the weather man began talking about the chance of a white Christmas, the trance broke and Krad snapped back to his senses.
He frowned, trying to make himself comfy again. Why couldn't Satoshi have gotten an apartment with two bedrooms? Was that too much to ask?
Ignoring the white specters ripping at his hair and clothes, he tried to beat off the little demons that tortured his lover. Screaming in frustration and pain, he found a familiar black clad arm and yanked, pulling the violet-eyed boy up to his feet. Commanding Army of Angels to return to card form, he broke into a run, never once letting go of the other, even when he felt him stumble. He kept pulling him along because he knew that if he stopped for even a second, the little demons would overtake them.
Kicking open door of the first building he approached, he ran inside, dragging his lover behind him. He closed the door with some effort. Finally, when it had been shut, he took a look at their surroundings.
"Church," the violet-eyed boy's lips twisted into a bitter smirk. "Our 'devil magic' isn't welcomed here, huh?"
He almost laughed. "Holy ground. Stray cards can't follow us here."
"I don't know about that..." Violet eyes caught sight of a ladder. "Hey... that leads up to the roof, doesn't it?"
It was on that night that they first discovered the roof that would ultimately be their escape.
"You're talking in your sleep, you know." He awoke with a start to see Satoshi standing over him, bleary eyed. He held the remote in one limp hand and the television had been shut off.
Krad stared up at Satoshi, "What the hell are you doing up?" He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck, "You're usually out of it for ages when you wake up..."
Satoshi shrugged, "You've been tossing and turning and keeping me up for a half an hour. I just found the strength to get out of bed and come wake you up now."
"Figures," Krad rolled his eyes.
"As I said, you were talking in your sleep." Satoshi took a seat at the end of the couch. "More dreams about the cards?"
"…No, I don't think so."
Satoshi stared blankly at him, eyes slightly unfocused.
Krad relented under the gaze, "Not directly, at least." Trying to turn the tables, he forced a smirk, "And you? I suppose you have dreams about the other Keeper candidate, no?" He said in innocently enough, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
Satoshi threw the remote at his forehead (and, dammit, wouldn't you know that he had good aim?), standing up and stalking out of the room. "Go to bed, Krad. We've got a party to go to tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah," Krad growled, pulling a pillow over his aching forehead. "Good night to you to, Dear Sato."
---
Emiko was dashing around like a madwoman that evening, putting the final touches on everything. Daisuke, Dark and Risa had been put on welcoming duty and the three stood awkwardly in the hallway, awaiting their guests.
"Didn't you take all those down?" Risa pointed the sprigs of greenery placed under just about every doorway in the Niwa household. Daisuke sighed.
"Well, we tried, but she caught us… and made us put it all back."
Risa shot him a puzzled look, "What's it all for, anyway? I mean, it's pretty and all, but…"
The red-head, who had been on "explain the odd traditions to the guardian" duty, immediately spoke up, "It's mistletoe. When two people stand beneath it, they have to kiss."
She blinked, "…Why?"
"It's tradition," Dark put in with a wink and a grin in the petite girl's direction. Risa smiled back, batting her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner. Daisuke felt like banging his head against a wall.
"Stop it, the both of you."
"Yes, sir," they muttered in unison, shooting conspiratory glances at each other behind his back.
It was then that the doorbell rang. Daisuke moved to open it but Dark stepped in front of him, waving his arms around wildly. "Move, Dark," Daisuke said in a warning tone, glaring up at the taller teenager.
"C'mon, Daisuke, we don't really want them here! If we leave 'em out there, they'll have to go away EVENTUALLY, won't they?" He begged, trying to block off the door from his cousin.
"We can hear you out here, loudmouth," Krad's voice drifted faintly through the wooden door. "And I don't want to be here anymore then you want me here, so open up the damn door already before I break it down!"
"Krad, you said you would behave!" Satoshi's voice snapped.
"I said no such thing!" Krad protested.
Daisuke shoved Dark aside and opened the door wide, beckoning their guests in with a warm smile. "Hikari, Hiwatari, welcome!"
Satoshi entered, returning Daisuke's smile hesitantly. Krad cast a mournful look at the snowy outdoors before moving inside.
"Merry Christmas," Daisuke smiled, taking Satoshi's coat, and after the blue-haired boy had glared enough, Krad's too.
"And to you, Niwa," Satoshi presented the red-head with the bouquet he'd bought the other day. "Here, for the house. Merry Christmas."
Daisuke's face colored slightly, "Thank you." He grinned. "I'll go put them in some water." He ran off to go do so. Dark and Risa stood awkwardly in the hall, wondering what to do now that they had been abandoned, left to deal with the enemy.
"So, uh, I'll go help Daisuke!" Risa said after taking one look at Krad. She slunk away hurriedly, trying to ignore the piercing golden gaze on her back. "Dark, entertain our guests!" She called over her shoulder as she disappeared around a corner.
Dark cursed under his breath. "So, uh…" he turned to Krad and Satoshi. "Go on in?" He coughed, not really knowing what to say.
"Thank you," Satoshi said coolly, walking past him. Krad moved to follow, but hesitated once he stood next to Dark.
"…What?" The violet-eyed boy raised an eyebrow, hands on his hips. That's when golden eyes met his own.
Fallingfallingfallingfallingfalling…
Dark bit his lip against the sudden rush of vertigo that came over him.
"There's mistletoe all over the place," Krad said in a disapproving tone. For a moment, Dark thought the other might try and kiss him but Krad moved out of the hallway before Dark was even done with the thought.
"…Jerk," He muttered, wondering why exactly he didn't feel very relieved.
---
Dinner was an almost alarmingly peaceful affair. Satoshi and Daisuke talked like old friends, Risa focused on her food, and Dark and Krad took painful measures to ignore each other.
After dinner, Emiko cheerfully suggested that the children go upstairs and it was reluctantly decided that they would go to Dark's room, as it was bigger then Daisuke's. Daisuke and Dark led the others up (Dark muttering, well, darkly the whole time), with Risa bringing up the rear. She had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on the other candidates, just in case they tried something fishy.
Reaching the end of the hallway, Dark reached up and pulled on a low hanging cord in the ceiling, and then stepped out of the way quickly as an old rickety staircase quite literarily crashed into being. Dark began to walk up it without so much as a glance behind him, but Daisuke chose to be a little more considerate.
"Sorry, it's a little surprising the first time 'round, isn't it?" He smiled sheepishly at the other two boys.
"A little," Satoshi admitted as he followed Daisuke. Krad just shrugged. Risa glared at the blond's back. She didn't like him much at all.
Dark was already seated on his bed when the rest made it up the staircase. Risa made sure to pull the corresponding cord once she'd reached the landing. The staircase refolded itself and, her job completed, Risa joined the men into the attic.
It was Satoshi who broke the somewhat awkward silence. "Krad and I have a gift for the two of you," he said, elbowing the blond. Somewhat grudgingly, the blond drew several slips of paper out of his pocket, handing them out for Daisuke to take.
Examining the slips, Daisuke traced over the intricate writing that covered them. "What are these?"
"Talismans," Satoshi explained, kneeling next to the red-head. "Like the one's Krad and I use. They can be useful against the cards, at least until you capture more of them."
"IF you capture more of them," Krad muttered. Dark gave him a very rude hand gesture.
Satoshi cleared his throat, "They're pretty easy to work. The ones in red ink are fire talismans, the ones in blue are water and so on and so forth. To work them, just concentrate hard. Like the cards, I suppose."
Dividing the talismans into two equal piles, Daisuke passed one to Dark. "Thank you very much!" He said, getting up. "And Dark and I have a present for the both of you, too."
Dark blinked quizzically, looking up from a wind talisman, "We do?"
"Yes, we do," Daisuke said, pulling open a drawer and handing Satoshi a small, wrapped package. He flushed slightly as Satoshi began to carefully strip off the wrapping paper. "I didn't really know what to get you, but I found a copy of this and I figured…"
Krad leaned over Satoshi's shoulder to read the worn, gilded letters that flowed across the leather bound book. "'Magical Items and Where to Find Them', eh?"
"Maybe there's something about the cards in there," Daisuke suggested.
"You didn't LOOK?" Dark asked in an accusing tone. Daisuke fixed him with a glare.
"Be quiet, Dark."
"Thank you, Niwa," Satoshi said with a smile. "I'm sure it will be a very useful book. It was very considerate of you."
The blush on Daisuke's face darkened slightly.
As if sensing the break in conversation, the tiny window blew open and a bitter, snow filled wind flowed into the room, howling in a ghastly way. Dark and Krad quickly shut it, struggling slightly to close the latch. It wasn't until it was done that they realized they'd actually worked together on something. Both quickly fled to the opposite sides of the room and pretended that the other didn't exist.
The wind continued to bang on the window. Risa walked up to it, hesitantly pressing her hands against the window panes and peering through the glass. After a minute, she spoke.
"You guys had better get out there," she said, squinting at the swirling white flakes outside. "It's Snow, all right."
---
Card 4- To Be Continued
---
I guess you guys know what's coming next, huh? The Snow card. Should be fun, no? In the next chapter, we also introduce Daisuke Niwa, card psychologist, and the Fallen captors may actually have to-- GASP-- work together!
I guess this was more of an "interlude" type chapter, but it was a lot of fun to write. Especially the dreams.
Speaking of the dreams, their meaning and purpose will come to light in a few chapters. I should probably say now that the two guys in them aren't who you probably think they are. (Give me a little credit when it comes to a plot as twisted as knotted yarn, would ya?)
Make Ammy a happy girl and review please!